Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

‘This Is A Scar They Carry’: Health Vote May Haunt Republicans Come Midterms

Democrats started signing “Na na na na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye..." as the legislation passed the House, predicting that it could spell electoral doom for some Republicans who voted to pass the American Health Care Act.

The Wall Street Journal:
House Bill Makes Health Care A Swing Factor For Midterms
By passing the American Health Care Act to replace Obamacare on Thursday, Republicans ensured that health care could determine the fate of their House majority in the 2018 midterm elections. As Democrats learned when they lost 63 House seats in the 2010 elections, keeping a political promise that upends the American health-care system can be a recipe for electoral disaster—one they now hope befalls Republicans in 2018. (Epstein, 5/4)

The New York Times:
Is G.O.P. ‘Staring Death In The Face’ After Repeal? Democrats Hope So
“I think they are staring death in the face,” Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia, said about the political prospects of dozens of House Republicans who were persuaded to back the bill by Republican leaders anxious to deliver a legislative win. “They asked their vulnerable members to take an enormous gamble and risk on an act of faith that I guarantee will not pay off.” (Hulse, 5/5)

Politico:
The House Republicans Who Could Lose Their Jobs Over Obamacare Repeal
Strategists in both parties already believed the House could be up for grabs in 2018, as it often is two years into a new presidency. But the Obamacare repeal vote was as emotionally charged as they come on Capitol Hill, and a handful of Republicans in districts won by Hillary Clinton may have very well written their political obituary by voting yes. (Robillard, 5/4)

USA Today:
Health Care Vote Makes Dozens Of Republicans More Vulnerable, Analysts Say.
Days after President Trump’s inauguration, Rep. Mimi Walters of California vowed to protect patients with pre-existing conditions in any plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. On Wednesday she cast a vote for a plan allows insurance companies in some cases to charge higher premiums to people with cancer, diabetes and other common preexisting conditions — even pregnancy. (Przybyla, 5/4)

Los Angeles Times:
California's Republicans All Voted Yes On The Healthcare Bill. Now Democrats Have A Campaign Issue
All 14 Republicans in California’s congressional delegation voted Thursday to dismantle Obamacare, a move that could have ripple effects for the midterm elections 18 months from now as Democrats sense an opportunity to win back House control. Half of the 14 represent districts that backed Hillary Clinton for president last fall, and Democrats already are plotting to oust vulnerable Republicans on the same topic that swept them out of the majority following the 2010 Affordable Care Act vote. (Wire, 5/4)

Politico:
Red-State Dems Pounce On Obamacare Repeal Bill
Red-state Democratic senators who once hoped for a bipartisan fix to Obamacare now have nothing to work with but the House GOP’s repeal plan. So they’re lining up to trash it. All 10 Senate Democrats up for reelection next year in states won by President Donald Trump joined their leaders in vilifying the Obamacare repeal passed by the House passed Thursday. (Schor, 5/4)

The Associated Press:
GOP Revs Up To 'Eye Of The Tiger' For Vote, Dems Sing Bye
Like boxers before a big fight, Republicans pumped themselves up with the pounding music of Survivor's 1980s anthem "Eye of the Tiger" and Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business" before passing a bill to dismantle Democrat Barack Obama's health care law. Hours later, when lawmakers filled the House chamber Thursday afternoon to cast the final vote, Democrats answered with another song. (Jalonick, 5/5)

The New York Times:
Democrats Taunt Republicans With ‘Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye’ During Health Vote
When it became clear on Thursday that Democrats in the United States House of Representatives could not defeat a bill to repeal and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act, they turned to a time-honored American tradition: taunting the other side. “Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye,” dozens of Democrats sang in unison as the health care bill crossed the 216 votes needed to pass. (Haag, 5/4)

Boston Globe:
House Democrats Sing ‘Na Na Na Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye’ After GOP Health Plan Passes
Republicans might be relieved after pushing their health care plan through the House Thursday, but Democrats issued them a warning: That won’t last. After the vote, some House Democrats waved farewell to their GOP colleagues and then started singing, “Na na na na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye..." Democrats believe the health care bill — which Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said will strip coverage from millions — will backfire on House Republicans with voters when they come up for re-election next year. (Reiss, 5/4)

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